Loading ...Interview and Contest with Author Terri Garey
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the fabulous prizes being offered up. The contest is open to readers worldwide.
NOTE: This is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 10:45 am CDT. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and comments. However the CONTEST portion of this event runs for FOUR days and ends at 11:59 pm PDT 5/8/09.
PLEASE KEEP SPOILERS TO A MINIMUM. Not all of the readers today have read the most recent book in Terri’s series or even all of the books in the series. Thank you!!
Interview:
Hi Terri!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Terri’s AWESOME release book 4 in the Nicki Styx series, You’re the One that I Haunt
BBB: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
TG: The most challenging part of writing is taking a creative idea and turning it into something coherent on the page. The most rewarding aspect is taking a creative idea and turning it into something coherent on the page. :-) (And you thought I was going to say “working in my jammies”, didn’t you?) Seriously, these aspects are the same thing for me. It’s one thing to have a “big picture” idea, but being able to flesh it out and make a story come to life is both incredibly challenging, and incredibly rewarding. I also LOVE the fact that I get to create interesting characters that - even if they exist only between the pages of a book - wouldn’t have existed otherwise. That’s huge fun!
BBB: Did you ever think your books would become so popular?
TG: I HOPED my books would become popular, but I never assumed anything. There are a lot of great books out there, and a lot of really good writers. I honestly just tried to write the best books I could, and hope they’d be read and enjoyed.
BBB: How did you make the switch from computers to paranormal romance/fantasy? And do you think you will continue with paranormal or move into another genre?
TG: The left side of my brain (the logical side) got fried. LOL I used it so much that the right side, the creative side, said, “Hey! What about me? Brain cells going to waste over here!” Seriously, I loved working with computers (I still do - I built and maintain my own website and a couple of others for close friends), but when I found myself getting burned out in the corporate world my husband told me to dig out that unfinished manuscript I’d been working on for years and finish it, so I did, and the rest is history.
I love anything and everything about the paranormal, so I’ll continue writing it, but I’d love to do some paranormal/historicals, too, as opposed to contemporary settings.
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle or Sony Digital Reader to the environment?
TG: I think they’re the way of the future, and more power to ‘em! I don’t have an e-reader yet, but I can certainly see the advantages of having millions of books at your fingertips instead of giant piles of them in your house! (Like I do.)
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
TG: I can’t speak for every author, but my royalties are higher on books bought electronically, so that is, of course, better for my bottom line. The negative aspect is that e-piracy is RAMPANT, so many of those e-copies have been stolen and distributed for free. Every single day I find free copies of my books offered online, and that’s a problem.
BBB: How do you keep track of your world building?
TG: Easy. The world I create in my books is the world I live in, with only a few small changes thrown in. I don’t see dead people (thank goodness!), but I think I know how I’d react if I did, so that’s how my heroine, Nicki Styx, reacts. I don’t live in Little Five Points, Georgia, but I’ve been there many times. I don’t run a vintage clothing store with my gay best friend, but I love vintage clothing and I have gays as friends. There’s nothing in my world building that’s majorly different my own world except for the “seeing spirits” thing.
BBB: Who or what inspires you to write?
TG: I love to write because I love to read. Reading has always been a passion, and I wanted to be one of those people who gave others the kind of enjoyment I’ve always gotten from reading.
BBB: Can you tell us what your next release (s) will be? And do you have stand alone or anthology titles forthcoming? How many books do you plan to write in the Nicki Styx series?
TG: My next release will be Silent Night, Haunted Night
BBB: What inspired you to use a vintage clothing store as the backdrop for Nicki’s livelihood?
TG: A combination of ideas, really. My mother was a collector - she loved to go to auctions and flea markets and brought home anything and everything that caught her eye: china, porcelain, jewelry, furniture, dolls, etc. Going to her house was always an adventure, because I never knew what treasure she’d found that weekend! I combined that appreciation for the old and unusual with the funky, free-wheeling community of Little Five Points, Georgia (which really is exactly how I describe it in my books), and it all came together.
BBB: I understand that you have a thing for jewelry, and that maybe you make some of your own? Is that true and if so is it for sale for readers to purchase? 
TG: Oh, don’t get me started on jewelry! LOL Not only do I love it (the more unusual the better), but I did get hooked on making my own. I have WAY more beaded earrings, necklaces and bracelets than any one woman should ever own! I’ve contemplated selling it many times, and have sold some on consignment in a local tea room, but my writing has kept me too busy to sell it commercially. I do, however, love to custom make things for my friends on occasion.
BBB: What was it like to win an award right out of the gate on your first book? Can you tell us about the dress you ended up wearing to the event?
TG: Um… winning a RITA Award was AWESOME! LOL Being nominated for two of them in the same year was beyond awesome. I actually thought the award committee had made a mistake and called me twice! It was only when the very nice lady on the other end of the phone patiently explained that I’d been nominated in two different categories that it sunk in (Best Paranormal Romance and Best First Book). To sit through that award ceremony and hear my name called as the winner was completely surreal - I had no speech prepared because I was afraid to jinx myself.
The dress was gold satin, low cut (my husband loved it LOL), with just a bit of bling on the bodice. It was by far the loveliest dress I’ve ever own, and I have no idea where I’ll ever wear it again.
BBB: What is the best ghost story you have heard since beginning the journey with Nicki?
TG: You’d be surprised how many people have their own ghost story to tell! I have a few of my own, you know - but they’d take too long here. The most recent one I heard was just last week, from a writer friend who was working away on her computer at three in the morning (the witching hour, don’t you know), and saw a man in a Confederate uniform walk past her office door. Made perfect sense, as she lives in the South in a house that’s over 100 years old. It scared her so badly she rushed in and woke her husband up, and made him search the house, only to find nothing.
BBB: What’s in store for Sammy?
TG: Oooo, Sammy. I love Sammy. Luckily, my editor loves him, too. I can’t promise anything, but Sammy may just have to tell his own story one day.
BBB: How many people caught the “he got it form Jared’s” joke in the most recent book? How do you come up with the clever puns and turns of phrase your books are becoming known for?
TG: Some of my puns are obvious, and some are not, so I have no idea how many got the Jared joke. :-) As to how I come up with them, they seem to come naturally. I’m told I have a good sense of humor on occasion.
BBB: If you could shapeshift, what animal would you be? And why?
TG: I’d have to choose a bird of some kind, because the freedom to fly must be a wondrous thing.
BBB: What is your favorite book of all time?
TG: Tough call. Strange as it may sound, I love DAVID COPPERFIELD, and many short stories by Edgar Allen Poe. I’ve yet to read anything by Georgette Heyer that I didn’t love to pieces, and INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE is right up there.
BBB: Do you have a number one fan?
TG: Ok, I know that question had to come from Justine. :-) Hi, Justine! LOL
BBB: What is your favorite color?
TG: Either black or red. Love the new site banner, by the way!
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Learn more about Terri Garey here:
Read reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.
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CONTEST: Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. Terri will be giving away FIVE AUTOGRAPHED sets of books! The sets include her latest hauntingly good release You’re the One that I Haunt
Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
1. The easiest way to enter is by purchasing copies of any of Terri’s books in any format! Yep, it is true, if you purchase Terri’s by using these links HERE:
Books in the Nicki Styx Series in the order they should be read:
Dead Girls Are Easy
A Match Made in Hell
You’re the One that I Haunt
Silent Night, Haunted Night
You will get SIXTY entries to the contest for EACH copy you purchase in ANY format from AMAZON using the links above or the BBB search box on the right hand side of the site..
It is NOT mandatory to purchase anything to enter the contests, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email me a copy of your purchase receipt to racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.
2. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is leave a comment telling us who your favorite Nicki Styx character is, OR share your own personal ghost story. No talking = no entries! You can come by EVERY DAY through 5/8/09 and comment for more entries. Good for 10 entries.
3. Buy anything from our new BBB Bloody Cafe Swag Shop here:
http://www.cafepress.com/bittenbybooks through 5/8/09. When you purchase items from our store, we make small commission that helps pay for the site upkeep, shipping books to reviewers, prizes for contests and other associated costs. We are ALL volunteers working to bring the best paranormal fiction review site. Any contribution you make is greatly appreciated! Also, be SURE to sign up for the BBB Bloody Cafe Swag Shop email newsletter on the left hand side of the site, for specials and other announcements. That newsletter is NOT related to the one you receive directly from this site. Your information will never be shared or sold. Good for 30 entries PER item you purchase.
4. Buy ANYTHING from Amazon today THROUGH 5/8/09 by using the Amazon search box on the right hand side of our site. We will know if you used the box to search and buy, so please be sure to use it or your entries won’t count. Send me a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes or snail mail) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 20 entries per item purchased.
5. SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter here on the top right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only. Be sure you VERIFY your subscription, an email is sent with the verification link. Unverified subscribers will not be entered and will be deleted from the mailing list. Good for 10 entries.
6. Spread the word, the more places you post the event, the more entries you get. Post the link to the event / contest today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=6824) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. Good for 25 entries per place you post the link to this event.
NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
7. Add us as your friend on
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59929467915
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks be SURE to tweet us after you follow so we can count your entry! @BittenbyBooks
Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you! Good for 10 entries per place you friend us.
8. Be friends with Terri by joining her here:
Newsletter: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001TAIYF9pFghFcb-7ytOzyoQ%3D%3D
Myspace:http://www.myspace.com/terrigarey
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1261201937
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42739390187
Then send me all the confirmations you receive verify subscription and friendship to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Worth 15 entries per place you friend her.
9. Read the reviews of Terri’s books here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Terri%20Garey
Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love. Good for 5 entries per review you comment on.
10. Use the SHARE This button at the bottom of this post to digg, stumble and share this on your social networks and new ones you have never tried before!
11. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event be SURE to include us in your tweet @BittenbyBooks http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=6824. Good for 10 entries each day you tweet it.
12. Add Terri’s website and blog to your blog roll or links page: http://www.tgarey.com/
http://www.tgarey.blogspot.com/ Good for 10 entries for each place you post each link.
13. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry! Good for 10 entries.
14. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by this week! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get FOUR entries and you get EIGHT entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
15. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your user name. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there. Good for 10 entries
GENERAL CONTEST INFORMATION:
The contest ends on 5/8/09 at 11:59 pm PDT and the winners will be contacted the following week. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.
IMPORTANT CONTEST RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
1. If you aren’t interested in receiving the prize, offered please do not enter the contest.
2. You have FIVE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. The author has the option to re-award it or not.
4. Contest is open to readers worldwide. The prize is shipped directly from the author.
5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.
6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.
7. Contest is void where prohibited.
8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry
(6 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Hi Terri!!! Thanks for stopping by. I do have a bit of a ghost story, its not mine, it belongs to my Nana. My Pap, her husband of 63 years, passed away 2 years ago at Christmas. One night, she saw this amazing ball of light, and asked if it was him. No response, but she sat in bed, and just held this little ball of light for awhile, and then it slowly floated away. She said it was one of the most beautiful things she has ever seen.
I do have 1 question for you, since I just can’t help it. Do you watch the Ghost Whisperer or would that be a conflict? I do love that show, and I’m very interested in reading your series.
Wow, you are a new author for me, but hearing about the series, it’s just wetted my appetite to put your series down to try out the next time (whenever that shall be) I go to Borders. I’m always up for a good Paranormal fiction.
And I just have to add, I enjoy a good paranormal historical. It makes me miss The Wild Wulfs of London series by Rhonda Thompson.
- Joining her newsletter
- Added her to myspace (visionarydruid)
- Friended her on facebook (rachel flesher)
- Joined her group on facebook
- Twittered it (raonaidluckwell)
- Added Terri’s web site to my links page on http://visionarydruid.blogspot.com/
- Added Terri’s Blog on my links page on http://visionarydruid.blogspot.com/
- Added Bitten by Books on my links on http://visionarydruid.blogspot.com/
- Gonna post this on my blog
(LOL FINALLY figured out how to do that.. I feel like such a blond)
- Gonna pester Lillie, Bama, Deb, and Keeshe to come
- Used the share this function to put on my facebook, myspace blog, and myspace bullentin
Hi Terri!
Welcome to bittenbybooks! Its really exciting to have you here! I don’t really have any exciting ghost stories to share. I remember telling some when we were kids and I remember doing it at slumber parties, but I’ve never met a ghost or gone ghost hunting.
My question for you would be this: With the interest in computers, writing and jewlery making, how do you find time to juggle it all? I work FT, quilt, cross stitch and read and find it impossible to do any of it for as long as want (okay-If I could work 4 hours a day…great! LOL).
Thank you for stopping by!
(Rachel-twittered, FB, Mark and Dakota and JAPM, BBB on blog roll, friends with BBB everywhere. lol)
I’m one of the slackers who has said for ages I was going to read your books, but never got around the piles I had to find them. I do have one around her somewhere though, and really need to dig it out. I love the sound of your heroine, and how genuine you try to keep the world you build for the characters. I think that’s often times an author’s downfall, when he or she tries unsuccessfully to keep too many balls in the air in creating a new world and set of characters. I’m really eager to read your books! Thanks for the entry in this giveaway.
Oh, and my dad once saw a ghost couple in old fashion clothes dancing to old fashion music in a hotel (where my dad worked security at an old amusement park in PA) that had once been burnt down due to a fire. It had since, obviously, been restored, but the story goes that the couple dancing had lost their lives in the fire. The clothes and music matched that of the time from the fire. Pretty creepy. (Others on other occassions saw this too. Not just him.)
Ok, I’m hanging my head in shame as I am about to admit that I have not heard of Terri before - nor her books. BUT, that has happily changed now! Thank you!!! Terri - your books sound awesome!! Paranormal is one of my favorite genres to read and I have been an addict of anything paranormal since I was a kid (seriously!) I can’t share anything about the characters, since I haven’t read them yet, but I can tell you that I have had several paranormal experiences myself. As a young child, deja vu was always a very common thing for me - honestly I can remember a couple of times where I was even confused whether or not things actually occurred or were just the deja vu setting in (this was from around age 5 - 6) I always had this sense of spirits in a house that I grew up in, with that sensation, objects being relocated, etc. I was even visited by an Uncle shortly after he passed away. I’ve also had dreams of close family friends and a family member dying within 2 weeks of their death. I could go on and on. Needless to say, the unexplainable and paranormal has always fascinated me and has been a big part of my life.
I do follow you on twitter and actually retweeted about this before hopping over here. I am going to subscribe to your newsletter also - I LOVE your blog/website, totally awesome! I am also going to check out Terri’s books! I’ll bop back over if I end up making a purchase (which I am sure I will, lol!)
Great interview and now I have a new awesome author to follow!!!!
April
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com
ajpohren@iowatelecom.net
Tweeted from my monkeygirlsmama account - https://twitter.com/monkeygirlsmama
Hi, Heather! Great story about your Nana and Pap - “orbs” are one of the most common forms of paranormal phenomena, although you’ll get wildly varying opinions as to their origins, and I’ve rarely read about one interacting the way your Nana’s did, which makes it particularly fascinating! The most important thing is that your Nana believed it was her husband, and it gave her comfort, which is a wonderful thing.
I’m SO glad you brought up The Ghostwhisper, because it allows me to state publicly and for the record that I wrote DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY back in early 2004, and The Ghostwhisperer did not debut until the end of September 2005!
There are definite similarities, but I like my characters better. LOL
Good morning Terri; Thanks for coming here today.
Madame Zelda’s Haunted Graveyard sounds like a Screamin’ Howlin’ rockin’ goodtime. Love Dead Man’s Party.
Urgh, forgot to post a ghost story here. The apartment that I just moved out of late last year was reputed to be haunted and is rich in history. It is actually an old old house the jerk of the landlord sectioned off into five apartments (later the five twindled into three, making certain ones larger).
From what I have been told it belonged to the Green family. The ones who owned the Sternwheeler Delta Queen. I’ve also been told that it graced the show of Unsolved Mysteries (again I’ve been told this).
I’ve only had two or three experiences there, smelling coffee when none in my house drink it and no neighbors (the upstairs which was a separate apartment was vacant)above. There was another scent in one room that I couldn’t really identify.
An old neighbor claimed to have seen an old woman looking out from the attic window. And some old tenates who once lived in the same apartment has told me of strange incidents that had happened, like the phone ringing at a certain time each night. Little things
Rachel: I’m a kept woman.
Meaning I no longer work FT at anything but writing (which I do treat as a job, but I give myself breaks!) I do the computer stuff when I need a break from the creative stuff, and vice versa.
Rebecca: Yes, my books vary from most paranormals when it comes to worldbuilding, because I wanted to write about a character in the REAL WORLD, and what effect it had her when something unexplainable happens. That thing that happened to your dad is referred to as a “residual haunting”, which is believed to be what happens when an actual event imprints itself on the environment, and replays itself over and over. Very cool he saw one.
Terri, however did you guess that I might have contributed one or two questions to Rachel’s interview? LOL
Seriously, great interview! I can’t wait for November…and I really can’t wait to see what we have in store for Sammy!
Hey Teri!
Thanks SO much for being here with us today! I cannot wait for the next installment of Nicki’s adventures. This last one really turned things on their ear so to speak.
I too LOVE Sammy. Are we going to see him have his own story? I really like Joe, but Sammy really seems more Nicki’s “type” KNIM?
My other question is on the voodoo aspects of your other book. What kind of research went into that? It is something that fascinates me and I like to study myself. You really did an excellent job representing hoodoo/voodoo. Did you have a particular resource for study or does that come from your own personal practice?
Commented on each review.
Thanks
Also added link to Terri’s blog on my blog, http://www.bookishmom.blogspot.com.
Thanks again!
Best of luck with the next book out, Terri.
Hi Teri - thanks so much for your time. I have the first two books in this series and have enjoyed reading them. I am a librarian and also wanted to know what kind of reearch you do for your books.
Hi, Terri! Great interview with BBB. I can’t wait to read this series…sounds really good!
As for a personal ghost story: My husband and I had a dog, Lopez, who passed away shortly after our first child was born. Lopez was 17-years old, and it was her time to move on, but before she died she used to walk in circles around our house in the afternoon. In doing so she would bump into our daughter’s musical toy making it play songs (it had a motion sensor). After Lopez died, we would still hear that toy playing music from time to time, even if no one was in that room. We assumed it was Lopez’s ghost bumping into the toy as she took her afternoon walk. As the weeks past, it happened less frequently until it stopped. I always thought that Lopez wanted to stick around in spirit for awhile, just to make sure we were going to be okay with the new baby.
~ Diana
Hiya, Beet! Yes, we have some ghoulishly good fun every year in Madame Zelda’s Haunted Graveyard! (That’s my annual Halloween fundraiser - you can see a slideshow of the fun on my website at http://www.tgarey.com/haunts.html )
Unexplained smells are another common manifestation, Raonaid!
Rachel, the voodoo was by far the hardest to research and the most spooky of all the topics I cover in my books! It’s an extremely secretive and complex religion, and many of the aspects are the result of a crossover between the Caribbean culture and a mixture of Catholicism and Protestantism beliefs. They had to hide their true beliefs as slaves, you see, and “Americanize” them. There is both good and bad in this religion, as in most others, and I don’t recommend messing with it!
Hi Terri! Great interview answers!
I was lucky enough to get a copy of You’re the One That I Haunt at the Romantic Times Convention. I’ve just started it and so far it’s great! I haven’t read the other booka yet - but will now that I’ve started this one!
Thanks!
Sabrina
Hi Terri! I remember when one day my mother who used to work at the local library told me she came across a book in the used book sale that she thought I would love. It was Dead Girls are Easy. That is how I first discovered you- of course, I googled you and found your website.She was right-your books are just what I lvoe to read! So glad to see the new books coming out. I just friended you on myspace and facebook.
Hi Terri! It is wonderful to see you on Bitten By Books! I have been a big fan ever since I found Dead Girls Are Easy. Gotta love that title!
I haven’t started my copy of You’re the One I Haunt yet, so forgive me if I ask something that occurs in it! I am just wondering if we will see more of Nikki’s mother? She was so funny in the other book, and I would love to learn more about why the kids were put up for adoption.
I RSPV’d and came to comment.
I joined the Facebook group.
I added Terri as friend on Facebook.
I added Terri as friend on myspace.
I twittered to come here and check out the interview (smartblonde8302).
I posted a link on the RomanceNovelsForum.com website.
I posted a bulletin on myspace.
I shared it on Facebook.
I made it my status on Myspace.
I posted about it on my blogspot (smartblonde8302).
oops, forgot to add a ghost story. I’m not quite sure it counts, but I feel it’s very real to me.
Ok, I occasionally have these dreams where I am being attacked-I try to scream and nothing comes out of my mouth. Most times, I have trained myself to push myself awake, but these dreams leave me physically drained.One night I was having one of these “dreams” and I was thrown into my bedroom closet. It was probably the most violent this “entity’ has been with me. Now, I never actually see the being, but it’s a black mass and it’s very scary. after I picked myself up ,I went down the hall to the bathroom. I turned to go back to bed and tehre was a little girl in the hallway in a flowered nightgown. She grabbed my arms by the wrists and pulled so tight. I tried pulling away, but she was very strong. Finally, I screamed “what do you want from me you little b$*@ch??” and pushed myself away from her. She disappeared. When I woke up, I had some faint marks on my wrists. I was very creeped out, but I haven’t had another of those “dreams” since I told off the little girl!
Hi Terri, welcome to BBB!!
Rachel,
I’m subscribed to the newsletter, I am a member of The Blood Bank, I’ve friended you on Myspace and Facebook, and I have BBB permalinked at http://nightdweller20.livejournal.com and http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com
Ok, Lisa, you have now officially creeped me out.
Hi Ashley, Erin, Lisa and Sabrina! Lisa, please tell your mom thanks for me, and Sabrina, were you at the Book Fair or the Avon signing?
Erin, Rachel said I’m not allowed to give spoilers.
(Is she mean, or what?) 
LOL hey now, YOU can give out spoilers for your books if ya want to.
I am only mean twice a year. Today is not one of those times. 
Hi Terri!
I’ve only read the first book of your series, but I thought it was just great! I want to get the rest but money is… Well it’s not here at the moment, but I know they are just wonderful.
I don’t really have a favorite character, but I do have a ghost story! I live in the attic of my house back home, and for years we’ve always heard things creaking about up there. Way before I made it my place. When I finally got up there and settled in, we situated my computer at one end of the attic and my bed, with the tv and such, at the other. Well, after a few days up there, whoever is up there with me decided to play. I get the TV turning on to cartoons, the lights of my stairs turning on and off- but the best part? Instead of taking my things and hiding it, this guy actually finds what I’ve lost and brings it back! I lost a ring at some point outside and, after searching for it, I gave up. When I got back home there it was sitting on my bed.
Cooky eh?
Raonaid Luckwell told me about the contest
I love that the series is set in Little Five Points. I spent WAY too much of my youth wondering around there.
When I was 12 years old, we rented a house that was haunted. Every night/morning at 2AM, you could here someone walk through the house. We didn’t stay there long.
Hmm.. Lets see. I did the subscription. And I’m already a member of the NEwsletter and Bloodbank. I’m already friends with BBB on twitter and my facebook. I’ll have to go and serach for Terri!
Just had to stop by and show some love.
I have mentioned to Terri my utter obsession with Joe on multiple occasions. I love that hot-naughty doctor! YUM!
As for my second favorite character (other than Nicki of course) is Grandma Bijou in whatever form she/he decides to grace us with. I bet G’ma B has a past that could be a whole series on its own!
~Love the series. Looking forward to Halloween even more than normal!
Oh! I did comment on the review. Man I really want to read the rest of this series. I just love all the supporting characters.
You do a wonderful job with humour, Terri. I was laughing so hard in some parts of the first one… But you also make people think. Thats the best kind of combo in my book.
Seri, very interesting how your refer to your ghostly friend as “this guy”. Any reason?
Hi, Lillie - another Little Five fan! Yay! I lived in a haunted house, too, and we didn’t stay there long, either.
Grins~ Every once and a while you can catch a glimpse of him in a mirror. I’ve never found out his name, there isn’t any talking, but I know it’s a guy.
I’ve taken to calling him ‘honey’ but he doesn’t seem to mind.
Dang enter button.
But other than that, most stories I hear about ghosts are always of them scaring people or taking things, or something like that. This one isn’t that way.
He’s very sweet and he looks out for me.
Hey “AriesRain”! Are you incognito? I’ll just call you “K”, k?
Yes, K is firmly in the Joe camp, and I don’t blame her (although Sammy is awfully tempting!). Grandma Bijou is one of my favorite characters, too. She was actually inspired by an old black and white photo, taken in Paris during the 1930’s, that I found in an antique store. One look at that face and I knew I had to tell at least a portion of her story! 
Seri, as long as he doesn’t call you “honey” back, you’re probably ok.
Laughs~ Ain’t that the truth.
Hi Terri,
OK, your comments have me curious. Can you tell us one of your own ghost stories?
Blessings,
Rhonda
Thanks for joining us today, Terri. I have your first book sitting here waiting for me, and need to get to it.
Many years ago, when I was a teenager, I was at the beach house my step-brother and his wife were living in. At one point I saw a guy walk down the hall and just disappear — there was no door nearby. It was pretty creepy, yet I wasn’t afraid.
Terri, what kinds of paranormal creatures do you enjoy reading about?
Hi! I must admit - you are a new author to me. After reading this page and reviews of your series.. I’m bumping your 1st book up on my TBR list! I just purchased the first book from Amazon. (Kindle edition) I can’t wait to start it.
Terri, is there any certain music you listen to while writing the books/or anything that inspires you?
I have two paranormal experiences that came to mind . One I won’t talk about, but the other… Well, I was site-seeing around Charleston, SC with my mom when I was about 13.. We took a tour of this house and we were just following the tour group around. I was thinking it was a lovely house until I entered this main room/ballroom where they had parties - I stopped dead in my tracks. This overwhelming feeling ran through me. Something was just telling me I was NOT welcome there and to get out of the house. I grabbed my mom’s arm and told her we needed to go. She asked why and asked me what was wrong (I was white as a ghost) and I told her we weren’t welcome here and something was telling me to leave. My mom says I started acting oddly when we hit that room.
The tour guide kept the group moving and I hurried to catch up. Another room was where the husband had a library and the tension and hostility immediately left. It just disappeared. That room was comforting and I can’t really explain the feeling of calm that went through me. I’m a bookworm and I like being around books - but this was different.
For *years* I shrugged it off and didn’t mention. But one night I was watching this show on “The Most Haunted Places in Charleston”. It was just for fun and I enjoyed it - and then they got to #1. The exact same house AND the exact same *ROOM*. Apparently, anyone who works there hears parties, loud conversations and music in there all the time. (night security hated working there they said) The house is still listed as “Haunted Places” in Charleston. I won’t forget that giant painting (floor to ceiling) the lady had hanging in that room.
Ok, maybe the story isn’t that interesting.
Anyways: I’ve enjoyed reading this page!
Signed up for Terri’s newsletter.
I added Terri on Facebook as a friend.
added the Fan-Group on Facebook.
Already added BBB on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. (ailish79) I already get the newsletter. Going to add links on my blog. (I’ve been neglecting it)
Also followed the Amazon link snd bought a copy of the 1st book so far.
My friends and I heard about this place called Gravity Hill and we decided to be brave and drive out there. You drive up to the 2nd pole, put your car in neutral and take out your keys. Then “ghosts” push you up a small incline. It was pretty cool.
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Hi Terri!
Welcome to Bitten by Books! I admit I haven’t read any of your books but your titles definitely ARE catchy!
And well, since reviewing for BBB, my TBR pile has grown significantly.
Anyway, my question for you is:
What would you be doing now, since you left corporate America and all, if you couldn’t write? (Though thank goodness that’s not the case right? ;))
Hi, all I want to say is I love your books and thank you for sharing your talent!
Oh and my own personal ghost story?
Well…
My grandfather died in his sleep a month after my 2nd birthday. I was sleeping with my sister in her room at the time. And I woke her up to tell her that our grandfather was at the doorway wanting to say “bye-bye”. She was wondering what I was talking about and tried to go back to sleep, so I went into my parents room and told them about what I saw.
Early the next morning, my grandmother called us to let us know he passed. I don’t recall this event, but everyone said it was like he was wanting to say one goodbye to us through me. I did however remember everything about his funeral.
[...] Interview & Contest w/ Terri Garey at Bitten by Books. [...]
I’ve only read “Dead Girls Are Easy” but Terri’s sense of fun comes shining through.
I’ve got a ton of ghost stories but the earliest one is from my mother. She tells the story of hearing me in my bedroom saying, “Hi man! Hi! Hi man!” in my nearly two year old insistent manner. She said it felt like hours for her to get down the hall to yank open my door. Her intent was to snatch me up and run even though she was very pregnant with my sister.
When she opened the door, all she saw was me waving and smiling at a seemingly-empty corner with a closed and locked window. Said I freaked her out.
I’ve always seen spirits and talked with them.
Hi Terri,
I have got “The One That I Haunt” on my TBR list. I have had a few experiences with ghosts…but usually in my dreams. I look foward to readin your book.
Best,
Sara
Hey, Rhonda! Well, my best true ghost story is the one where we rented a house in an older part of town. My stepdaughter came to me one morning, and told me that the door to her room had opened on its own, and when she looked up, she saw the figure of a man peering in at at her, as though he had his hand on the doorknob outside. She was so freaked out that I asked the neighbors about the history of the house, and found out there’d been a murder/suicide there! What made me move was finding the actual newspaper article that told of the man’s body being found right outside my stepdaughter’s door (the one that opened by itself!) Seriously, all true.
Hi Terri,
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this! I have a ghost story to share concerning my aunt and great aunt. The two of them were close so when my great aunt passed away, my aunt had trouble sleeping. She kept smelling my great aunt’s favorite perfume every night. Then one night about a week later, she had a fitful dream. In it, my great aunt asked her to locate her bible and have it burned to her. My aunt did just that and the ‘hauntings’ stopped and she was able to sleep again. Talking about it gives me goosebumps!
Thanks for listening.
Lesley
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carol: I love a good vampire story, but I wish there were more stories about ghosts! Anybody ever seen the old movie, “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir”? Ah. Pure romance.
Libby: So you’re a sensitive, hm? I took that same Charleston tour, and I believe that if you had a bad feeling, you were right to get out of there! Old houses hold so many memories…
Lyda: If I didn’t write, I’d be bored silly!
And that’s the honest answer. I garden, I walk, I read, I spend time with my family, but those creative urges need an outlet! (says the woman who wrote nine pages today on a totally new story)
I don’t blame you, Terri. I would have moved, too!
Rhonda :0)
Well Terri, I’m glad you have the gift of writing to keep you from boredom.
2.) Well, this happened when I was about 16 or so. I can’t quite remember the real date. I went back into my parents room to sleep since it was the furthest bedroom and they were having a party that made it sort of hard to sleep. Sometime during the night I woke up. Sure, I was bleary eyed, but I know that as soon as I opened my eyes, someone was standing there. A male figure and tall. I can’t remember the face. I jut remember staring at it. Finally, someone opened up the bathroom door just outside and flooded where the figure had stood with light. When the door closed and it was dark again, there was no one there.
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Terri - Hi!
I wouldn’t say I’m a full-blown sensitive, but 2 other members of my family are at least a *little* bit sensitive. (one instance - all 3 of us had a dream about someone we grew up with and a day later we got word they had died in a car wreck. 
I hadn’t seen him in 8+ years. It turned out 2 of my family members also had a dream about him on the same night that I did.) Stuff like that is very rare, though.
I’m considering telling the story about my grandmothers, but it is something my fam
I do LOVE reading these ghost stories!
Can’t wait to read even more later tonight. Isn’t it always better to read them in the middle of the night?
Hope y’all are having a great night!
er, OOPS! Hit enter too soon. Again! Dangit. Anyways, I was saying the story about my grandmothers is a story my mom doesn’t even know.
I do agree old houses have a lot of history!
I love Charleston - I just wish I lived closer. I’m fascinated by all the history there. It’s a 4 or so hour drive from me, though.
Hi Terri,
I just posted a link to your interview on my MySpace blog:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=242987920&blogId=487436746
If that link doesn’t work, the main page is:
http://www.myspace.com/rhonda_blessedheart
Blessings,
Rhonda
I have read Dead Girls Are Easy and I can’t wait to read he rest of the books
Well, the bad news is that I cannot name my fave character because I’ve apparently been living under a rock and have never read or heard of any of the books in this series! Ugh! How terrible!
Now, that BBB has fed my addiction to series paranormal books, I simply must buy the books! Love the cover to You’re the One that I Haunt!
A personal ghost story? Hmmm…well this one time at band camp…oh wait a minute that’s not the right story. Let’s see…well in high school there was this 7 bridges place. Supposedly you’d drive over these 7 bridges and then when you turned around and drove back the other way…one of the bridges would be missing. I just remember being terrified to ride over the bridges at night with my friends. Super scary!
I bought Teri’s first book and was hooked from that point on!!!! She is a wonderful writer and you can envision every scene from every book. I am so happy that you featured her on this interview as she deserves all the kudos for her writings. Thank you Teri for this interview and thank you “Bitten By Books” for hosting her! And, what a great present to me, as I turned 55 on 5/5!!! Thank you again, and keep up the great writing Teri!!!!
Thank you all so much,
Sue Rosenbalm,
Hamilton, OH
Terri, I love the interview, and I adore you books!
I have a lot of ghost stories, but the current one is about a female spirit who turns on the makeup mirror in my bedroom. The thing has three light settings and Off, activated by touch. I was grousing to myself about cleaning one day and the mirror lit by itself. The mirror continued to change the light settings during my brief YES-NO Q&A with the entity. I’ve only seen the spirit once, but others describe her as an older woman. She seems to stay upstairs, but is absent more than she’s here. Our house is under 20 years old, so I have no clue where she came from. She did make it clear she wouldn’t help me clean, dang it.
Congratulations, Terri! I’ll look forward to reading you again soon. As in another trip to B&N tomorrow!
Light,
Nancy Haddock
Contest stuff:
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Add BBB as friend on Good Reads (I forgot to mention the contest…oops)
Joined Terri’s newsletter, added her as a friend on facebook and joined facebook fan club
Hi Terri!!! Looks like you were the original Ghost Whisperer. I think Jennifer Love Hewitt owes you some royalities.
Oh wow Terri that is scary! I’d have moved too. My grandma has a story like that about an apartment she used to live in while my grandpa was out on tour with the navy. Scary stuff.
I am just loving reading all of the ghost stories that everyone has. Its amazing to think just how much there is out there to see, and how many people have actually seen it.
Thanks for the great interview. I love this series and the story in Weddings from Hell was great too. I look forward to many more stories to come.
Ghost stories have always fascinated me, there are a variety of little experiences in my family and I always like reading about more.
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Hi Terri! I always said I wanted to shapeshift into a Thunderbird. I think they are beautiful.
Here’s a ghost story for you! When I was I think about 8 or 9 years old, I thought I saw a shadow of a man outside my bedroom window on the lower roof there. I was upset and my dad came a few times and then he told me he thought it was the tree branch. So the next day he took down some tree branches but he was still there. My dad asked me if the man was bothering me by saying anything bad or coming in my room and I said no. My dad said maybe he is watching over you. I then just started to calm myself over days just talking about my problems with kids at school and at home and I began to look forward to talking to him. Then one day he was gone. I asked my dad why he left and my dad told me because I probably didn’t need him anymore and he went to go listen to someone else I honestly believe my dad was right! I believe it to this day. I can still picture him sitting on that lower roof near my window with one knee up and his chin on it. Thanks for letting me share!
————————-
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Wonderful interview and I look forward to picking up at least one book - in one form or another.
Hi Terri~
I am really looking forward to reading these. I love your Nicki Styx character.
What is up next for you? This is just a silly and ridiculous question, but what are you getting your Mom for Mother’s Day?
[...] one of five sets by Terri Garey at Bitten by Books Contest ends May [...]
My ghost story is when I was between 9 & 12 not 100 feet from my window was an old cemetary across the field. We used to play tag and such around it cause it was said that all the bodies had been moved when they moved the headstones to a little arc. Well we used to try and do seances and more than once we would look over and seen hazy blobs in amongst the trees and when some of the smaller markers hadn’t been moved from.
Looking forward to reading this series.
Have added Terri on FB as a friend and joined the group
Added the link on FB
Already BBB member and Bloodbank devotee
6. 12. 13. all complete at http://beetsbooks.blogspot.com/
Wow, I’m loving all these ghost stories, ladies!
Happy Birthday, Witchy Sue! Thanks for stopping by!
Lori, my mom will be getting flowers on her grave for Mother’s Day. She’s been gone for eleven years now, and I miss her every day.
Hi Arwen! Good to see you again, Nancy - I’m so sorry your ghost won’t help you clean.
If they’re going to hang around, they should at least make themselves useful, shouldn’t they? 
Ahh, vampires.
I do agree, though, Terri, that I enjoy a good ghost story, also. It seems that there are so many different ways they can be approached for stories.
I also want to say that living north of the Atlanta area, it is cool to see Little Five Points in a series.
“Are you incognito? I’ll just call you “K”, k?”
HAHAHA… I always post at AriesRain… dunno why… but you are more than welcome to call me “K” or Kristin.
Hey here is my comment I think Sammy is cool! Please enter me into the contest,
The books look great
Would love to give one a go.
Ghost story, would love to be able to tell one but I think it’s too cold for ghosts where I live
I completely forgot, I also did the RSVP via facebook invite.
Just popping in to say hello again today, ghoulfriends! Kristin, I was merely trying to help maintain your cover - I think AriesRain is a wonderful screenname. If I did the same, mine would be ScorpioSunshine.
Audra, I detect that you are a bad girl with good taste.
Linda, did you know that they have stories of ghost women made of ice in the high mountains of Tibet? (I’m a fountain of useless ghost trivia, btw!)
ghouls rules!
already a myspace friend and facbook
Terri - I love studying anything about Tibet. I want to hear about these ghost stories! I’ve never heard of that.
I realized I was posting as “Libby” WITHOUT adding the last initial of my last name. Duh, me! Sorry. Hope it still counts!!
Anyways, I am enjoying reading all the stories! Have a great night everyone.
Oohh, I like ScorpioSunshine!
My favorite character is Dr. Joe Bascombe… I’ve only read the 1st book… so I’m behind but I’m going to catch up…
I posted about it here: http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/two-chances-to-win/
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Forgot to mention that I RSVPed.
You are permanently on my links page, BBB!
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